tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post7110869599471008561..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Breaking Bad, "Better Call Saul": The cost of doing businessAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58160557570826391302010-03-20T04:33:14.764-04:002010-03-20T04:33:14.764-04:00Super super super late in commenting. Just trying...Super super super late in commenting. Just trying to get caught up quickly for this upcoming season 3. Definitely hooked. Alan, love the Wire references. And this series would not be a series if Walt just rented one season of Wire on Netflix or something.<br /><br />Hopefully I didn't miss someone bringing this up, but kinda confused how Walt's distraction of Hanks car also distracted the other 2 surveillance trucks from opposite sides monitoring the scene. Guess a TV show moment. Doubt anyone will read this and respond, but just thought I'd put it out there.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17117686654447227581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15744841540557503072009-05-01T00:35:00.000-04:002009-05-01T00:35:00.000-04:00Love Saul. Show just keeps getting better and bet...Love Saul. Show just keeps getting better and better.<br /><br />Skyler knows in her soul that Walt is keeping a secret from her and it really doesn't matter what the secret is. She feels betrayed by his inability to come completely forward because it has to be either a lack of trust or no moral defense for his secret. By failing to tell her, he's alienating the most important person in his life and ironically undermining the whole purpose of the venture. Skyler is worried about the baby she's going to have to raise in her post-Walt world. Walt's secret is pushing her towards comfort and compassion where she can find it. <br /><br />In the long run, I believe Walt's illness will go into remission, Skyler and Walt will rekindle their love, Jesse will kick the habit and start a life with his new love. Hank will cover for Walt when the truth is finally revealed. Show will end with them fishing together on a lake, best of friends, wiser and retired.<br /><br />In the interim, we're in for a wild and hilarious ride....with a few of life's lessons added in along the way.<br /><br />Kudos. Any awards are well deserved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87184498141184430302009-04-30T13:10:00.000-04:002009-04-30T13:10:00.000-04:00Really enjoyed this week's show, as I have all of ...Really enjoyed this week's show, as I have all of Breaking Bad.<br />Just wanted to point out a Badger sighting that I didn't put together until yesterday....<br />There is a Midas commercial where he crashes his car through the brake shop. At the end, he rolls down his window and says, "I think I need some new brakes."<br />And it's in that same Badger voice - which just struck me as hilarious. Guess that's his real voice.<br />Anyway, that has little to do with this week, but thought it was really funny.Gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-55759932271776906292009-04-29T20:59:00.000-04:002009-04-29T20:59:00.000-04:00It's Bob Odenkirk. David Cross was the Dave in Mr...It's Bob Odenkirk. David Cross was the Dave in Mr. Show.<br /><br />that skinny guy also played Hurley's best friend on LOST who worked in the chicken shack with him!<br /><br />LOST in 7 y'all!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40546858666211186512009-04-28T18:26:00.000-04:002009-04-28T18:26:00.000-04:00Fredo = Clueless Dope, or perhaps more accurately,...Fredo = Clueless Dope, or perhaps more accurately, Clueless Poser.Mark Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69658046639631088882009-04-28T18:04:00.000-04:002009-04-28T18:04:00.000-04:00A fantastic episode in a crackerjack series. Odenk...A fantastic episode in a crackerjack series. Odenkirk was hilarious. I don't think I would've bought DJ Qualls if they had introduced him as just a cop, but an undercover cop? For some reason, I can buy that.<br /><br />Is it just me or did they screw up that Godfather reference at the end? Saul says something like, "I wanna be Tom Hagen to your Don Corleone. But right now, you're Fredo." I think the writers meant to say Michael instead of Fredo. Michael was Al Pacino's character and rose to power in the first film. Fredo was Michael's brother who betrayed the family. Unless they're referring to some similarity between Fredo and Walt that I'm missing.James Kangnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10571128440047338862009-04-28T16:46:00.000-04:002009-04-28T16:46:00.000-04:00This episode was the least believable yet. The bes...This episode was the least believable yet. The best part of the show was Saul. <br /><br />It appears that Saul will be the vehicle to the Mexican Cartel. <br /><br />I predict Jessie will get done in by his new girl friend.<br /><br />AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14913421597517416792009-04-28T09:26:00.000-04:002009-04-28T09:26:00.000-04:00Carla said...Still betting that the charred teddy ...Carla said...Still betting that the charred teddy bear is tied to the Walt Jr. subplot.What Walt Jr. subplot?<br /><br />Walt Jr. is never home and is completely neglected by his parents, he changed his name, and who knows what effect that trip to the meth hotel with Uncle Hank had on him? Plus there was that scene a few episodes ago where he and his dad talked about how they were going to get revenge on the person who put the flyer on the car...and Walt Jr.'s solution was more grisly than his dad's! I think there's something there, lurking under the radar.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11123548287283681963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14336298503861676302009-04-28T02:09:00.000-04:002009-04-28T02:09:00.000-04:00To anonymous complaining that Odenkirk lacks "grav...To anonymous complaining that Odenkirk lacks "gravitas" -- Saul Goodman is a sleazeball crook, a low-rent Maurice Levy (as Alan pointed out), and I don't think a character like that must (or should) be played with gravitas. Bob has perfected that oily grifter role (he did a few variations of it on Mr. Show) and he's pulling off Saul just fine. Maybe he does have a natural tendency to veer off into comedic territory, but the quality of the writing should be enough to keep him more or less on track.<br /><br />It was refreshing to see a Skyler-free episode, truth be told. The writers still haven't completely cracked that character, in terms of making her interesting or surprising, and I don't have much faith in the flirty-boss plotline.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08917874378666399043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17526097124670658322009-04-27T23:52:00.000-04:002009-04-27T23:52:00.000-04:00Jon said...Still betting that the charred teddy be...<I><B>Jon said...</B>Still betting that the charred teddy bear is tied to the Walt Jr. subplot.</I>What Walt Jr. subplot?Carlanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-43152588904767546862009-04-27T21:25:00.000-04:002009-04-27T21:25:00.000-04:00Another great episode, and I agree with the above ...Another great episode, and I agree with the above comment about the fact that the BB writers are definitely aware of David Simon's work on The Wire, and it was nice to see them bring in a "Levy" type of character. One thing that I think that Breaking Bad has done better than The Wire, is that it is consistently funny every episode. The Wire had those moments of throwaway comedy like Rawls in the gay bar, or when Bernard says, "I can't wait to go to jail". The beginning with the two vans appearing at the end had me laughing harder then some of The Office episodes this season. Great job by Gilligan and company, in my opinion this is the best drama on television.<br /><br />BTW Alan, I think that the Skyler-Boss relationship definitely might have been mutual in the past, and no so much the harassment that you alluded to earlier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-4695808771248111952009-04-27T20:12:00.000-04:002009-04-27T20:12:00.000-04:00"Conscience do cost." -Butchie"Conscience do cost." -ButchieUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829086972880970119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86758162744700344892009-04-27T19:21:00.000-04:002009-04-27T19:21:00.000-04:00"Conscience gets expensive"--Walt doesn't look lik..."Conscience gets expensive"--Walt doesn't look like he wants to pay for that luxury.<br /><br />It struck me, as Hank decried the lack of "experiential overlap" that Walt has dealt with killing far more successfully than his bad-ass brother-in-law; conscience definitely doesn't seem to be much of a problem for him.<br /><br />And yet--Jesse and Walt fumbling to let Jesse back in the car after the bust really underscored their amateur status, and Hank's suspicious stare at Jimmy the professional convict underscored how good he is at his. And that final scene with Saul underscored how good he is at <I>his</I> job, too. Jesse wasn't kidding when he referred to him as a <I>criminal</I> lawyer.<br /><br />Great, great episode.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34139515602438994622009-04-27T16:51:00.000-04:002009-04-27T16:51:00.000-04:00Alan said,
"Skyler's largely off-screen this week,...<I><A>Alan said,<br />"Skyler's largely off-screen this week, other than a glimpse of her showing off a lot of pregnant cleavage while preparing for a weekend business meeting with new/old boss Ted. "</A></I>I agreed with Walt that she was dressed a little too well for a Saturday work day. She also struck me as a little evasive when she justified dressing that attractively for working overtime. <br /><br />This show regularly surprises me by not exploiting events that seem setups to a plot development, but that still struck me as a hint that she's got something romantic going on.Eldritchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247921343535184791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72905514632348283442009-04-27T16:01:00.000-04:002009-04-27T16:01:00.000-04:00I just have this feeling that Breaking Bad will en...I just have this feeling that Breaking Bad will end in tragedy. Walt will either end up dead or in prison or live to be a drug kingpin but with his family (the one who he says he's doing all of this for) estranged from him. And when I look at Walt and Jesse, I find myself thinking of Vic and Shane from the Shield. Shane was a bastard but if it wasn't for Vic, he wouldn't done half of the things he's done or gotten himself into some of the messes caused by Vic's actions. However, Vic denies his role in Shane's descent, thinking that all of the blame is on him. So, in the scenario of Breaking Bad, Walter is Vic and Jesse is Shane. And, for those who've seen the Shield, we all know how things between them ended. I also think Jesse's new girlfriend will create a conflict between Walter and Jesse the way Shane's wife among other things created a conflict between Vic and Shane in Season 3.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-64475122250237477442009-04-27T13:47:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:47:00.000-04:00Looks like I missed an ep.
Thanks!Looks like I missed an ep.<br /><br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58072482800657296322009-04-27T13:44:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:44:00.000-04:00Jesse went back to see the guy in the very next ep...Jesse went back to see the guy in the very next episode, paid him what he owed, plus extra for the gate and the port-a-john, then arranged to garage the RV there regularly.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71485262143644500572009-04-27T13:34:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:34:00.000-04:00What happened to the tow truck driver that Jesse s...What happened to the tow truck driver that Jesse stiffed when he broke in and took his RV?<br /><br />Was this plot point addressed? <br /><br />Surely he wouldn't let this go without retribution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21767747964689031372009-04-27T13:22:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:22:00.000-04:00I usually love Bod Odenkirk but he does not fit on...I usually love Bod Odenkirk but he does not fit on BB, and his character Saul is way too broad. Because of Saul, his substitute prisoner scheme, and the wacky hijinks that ensued, this episode felt completely different than the rest of the season so far. <br /><br />I did enjoy the pre-credit scene and there was some other good stuff in there like the first conversation between Walt and Hank, but overall this did feel like the same show that I've been enjoying so much for the past couple months.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47021234568683436592009-04-27T13:20:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:20:00.000-04:00I thought Walt's Isotopes cap was a shout out to T...I thought Walt's Isotopes cap was a shout out to The Simpsons, but then I remembered that Albuquerque actually NAMED their minor league team the Isotopes in honor of The Simpsons.<br /><br />The Michael Scott Paper Company's accountant could explain to Walt and Jesse how when your business grows your expenses grow faster.<br /><br />I wonder how conscious the Breaking Bad writers are of The Wire. Like Sepinwall, I have a hard time watching it without comparing their every move to their Baltimore equivalents. I suspect there's a fairly high level of awareness, and they're careful not to duplicate David Simon's work.digammahttp://digamma.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44362094446014951012009-04-27T13:16:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:16:00.000-04:00I see I wasn't the only one thinking of Maury Levy...I see I wasn't the only one thinking of Maury Levy while watching this week. Another good episode, though like Anonymous 9:44, I wonder if Saul was a little too broad. He seems too much the buffoon to ever be menacing (though I was amused to find out that Saul is only pretending to be Jewish).<br /><br />And I wonder about the plausibility of the fake bust. How can the existence of someone who has been doing jail time for money for decades not be known to everyone in the Albuquerque criminal law community?Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984348525069741897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-25513775499592879342009-04-27T12:35:00.000-04:002009-04-27T12:35:00.000-04:00I'm betting that Saul is going to be a casualty of...I'm betting that Saul is going to be a casualty of the Mexican drug lords. He now knows too much and has too many fingers in the underworld...and I don't think Walt would step in to help if it appeared that Saul was in trouble. He's bound to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.<br /><br />Loved that line about killing the mosquito, not the mosquito's lawyer! Priceless!<br /><br />Still betting that the charred teddy bear is tied to the Walt Jr. subplot.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11123548287283681963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30828508889583246012009-04-27T12:31:00.000-04:002009-04-27T12:31:00.000-04:00Anonymous-
Saul didn't keep the pound for himself....Anonymous-<br />Saul didn't keep the pound for himself. It was sacrificed in the bust of the fake "Heisenberg". They had to have something to bust him for, right?<br /><br />rayRkexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37063627453646750832009-04-27T12:24:00.000-04:002009-04-27T12:24:00.000-04:00Saul started off the episode broad but ended sinis...Saul started off the episode broad but ended sinister. Similar things have happened with Aaron Paul and Dean Norris' characters, just over more than one episode length. So I'm hoping they develop the sinister side and let the goofy side fade.<br /><br /> Also, I wondered if the reference to Lalo was a nod to the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Death" REL="nofollow">House of Death</A>. It's the first thing I thought of, but my reading habits are peculiar and I have no idea how common a name "Lalo" is.rjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-28005625286694195772009-04-27T10:36:00.000-04:002009-04-27T10:36:00.000-04:00I think Breaking Bad needs a Saul Goodman to keep ...I think Breaking Bad needs a Saul Goodman to keep moving forward without the storyline becoming implausibly absurd. This series started as a “get rich quick” story and there are realities insuring virtually all instant wealth schemes end in failure. A character who knows the facts and emotions in the criminal justice system in enough detail to comfortably joke about them is what this narrative needs to keep it going forward within believable boundaries.Mark Bnoreply@blogger.com